This was a repeat of an event held during the height of foot & mouth during 2001. There was so little "O" then, that people enjoyed this event. So we thought that we would run it again for National Orienteering Week. Much of the enjoyment was due to the various rural route options, with Bexley Woods, Rutland Shaw, Lamorbey Park and the Shuttle Riverway.

The turnout wasn't brilliant, but sufficient to make the work of preparation worthwhile.

There were the usual moans! Mike Grant said he was over the hill, whilst Dave Stuttard, despite the rumours, denied he was over the same hill. Carys Morgan, Ian, Janet and Helen Swan and John Butler said that they hadn't seen any hills during their runs.

Despite a very hot evening everyone seemed to have enjoyed their runs. Carys, during her run, was offered a shower by one of the local likely lads, which despite the heat, she was undoubtedly wise to decline. Dave managed to trip over a paving stone and grazed his elbow. He is expected to make a full recovery. John Butler copied one control in the wrong place, and Dave was 100 metres out on one of his controls. That bloke, Chris Baker had essentially planned exactly all the same courses as in 2001, but in a cunning plan reversed the order of the controls. The effect was that nearly everyone, with the exception of the Swan family, got lost halfway round.

However, with unaccustomed largess, I ignored all errors and omissions so that everyone appears in the results. Mind you, they've all agreed to send me each a very large cheque for the privilege. Be aware though, none of you will get this flexibility in the JK or the British Championships.

See what you missed?!

Chris Baker

RESULTS

Short Course      3.4km
1. Ian, Janet & Helen Swan  50.42

Long Course      6.2km
1. Dave Stuttard      M55       48.12

Longer Course  7.4km
1. John Butler         M45       37.47
2. Mike Grant          M50       44.45
3. Carys Morgan     W21       49.26